Eighth-grader Han Keum has become one of the most talented young musicians in Anchorage. But he almost gave up on music before he discovered his love for violin as part of his school orchestra class.
Han Keum sat at a black upright piano and carefully placed his fingers on the keys. The Anchorage eighth grader wore all black clothing just like he would if performing a concert. Then, inside of the classroom at Northern Lights ABC School, he began playing Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturne Number Nine.
“My mom is the one who taught me piano,” Keum said. “Sometimes I play the violin, my mom plays the piano, she accompanies me when I play the violin so I think that’s like, really just in general, fun.”In sixth grade, Keum wanted to join the orchestra class, but that meant choosing a new instrument — one with strings. A member of his church gave him a violin and he began learning to play, mostly by himself.
Keum said he almost gave up on music. In fifth grade, he attempted to learn his father’s favorite song on the piano — Chopin’s Revolutionary etude — but was unable to master the complicated piece of music. He stopped playing piano briefly. It was too stressful. But he said his teacher, Katie Eakes, helped him rediscover why he played in the first place.
Taking a bit of revenge on the Chopin piece that had eluded him, Spontak said Keum nailed the Revolutionary Etude during the competition.
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